In the wake of the enormously successful Cobot design, 21st Century Robotics offered many subsequent models that evolved out of the Cobot mold. Budweiser, Coors, McDonald's, and FedEx are just a few of the brands the company counts among its many clients, although an arrangement with Atlanta-based police departments in 1980 probably had the most profound influence on the company's current stock in trade.
"In 1980, Green's 21st Century Robotics approached the Atlanta City Police and the Atlanta Board of Education to produce a 'policeman' robot to teach stranger danger during the missing and murdered children cases in Atlanta," says Paul, who joined Creative Systems Group in 1989 as lead technician and robotics department manager. "This became the launching pad for the Auxiliary Robotics Educational System, A.R.E.S., and continues today." Green had sold the promotional robotics division of 21st Century Robotics Inc., to Creative Systems in the mid 90's.
"In 2000," continues Paul, "CreativeKiosk, led by Tom Zaken, became another division of CSG, after mobile computing and ATMs had taken off around the world. The new push was towards custom designed kiosks for all kinds of product promotions in retail venues and ticketing kiosks at airports. The production of robots ceased and 21st Century Robotics was fast becoming a memory."
After 10 years at Creative Systems Group, Paul left the company but continued to service its robots around the world. Discovering three years later that 21st Century's original customer base was still eager for new designs, Paul decided to re-incorporate 21st Century Robotics, now located in Monroe, Georgia, to begin research and development on the NG-1™, or The Next Generation™ robot. In September, 2005, Paul debuted the NG-1™ at the International Association of Chiefs of Police show in Miami, coupled with a full-swing marketing campaign aided by partners Lenovo and Microsoft.
"NG-1™ offered unmatched technology breakthroughs in robots for educational markets," beams Paul, "and its robust, yet sleek design once again caught the attention for promotional markets. News stories are regularly requested and NG-1™ is booking appearances in every type of venue."
Even with their new state-of-the-art robot headlining the company website, the revered 27-year-old Cobot is still listed among the handful of robots the company still provides service for on their support page. Like the stalwart droid that inspired the first Cobot, it appears 21st Century Robotics remains loyal to the end.
To learn more about 21st Century Robotics' latest products, please visit their website here.
